Of course, Psy is know around the globe for his billion-plus viewed hit “Gangnam Style,” the …

]]>In three days, dancing South Korean MC Psy watched the music video for his new song “Gentleman,” cruise comfortably past 101,000,000 views on YoutTube.

Of course, Psy is know around the globe for his billion-plus viewed hit “Gangnam Style,” the first video in history to ever reach such a tally.

In its first twenty-four hours online, “Gentleman” broke YouTube records with over 24,000,000 views. And, I’ll admit, one of those was me. But who else couldn’t resist to hit the link that popped up in endless social media feeds on April 13? Where are they from?

Well, www.allkpop.com released a list today that answers exactly that. And yes, Canada snags a spot. According to the website, the ten countries most responsible for skyrocketing Psy’s “Gentleman” video on its release day are as follows:

United States – 3,798,871 – 15.71%

South Korea – 3,575,667 – 14.79%

Brazil – 1,411,208 – 5.84%

Mexico – 1,004,485 – 4.15%

Canada – 969,601 – 4.01%

France – 760,123 – 3.14%

United Kingdom – 724,971 – 3.00%

Taiwan – 680,251 – 2.81%

Vietnam – 659,529 – 2.73%

Malaysia – 587,584 – 2.43%

So, there you have it. If you are so inclined, you may begin your finger pointing now.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/16/who-is-responsible-for-psys-gentleman-hitting-101-million-youtube-views-in-three-days/feed/0PsydtoigoCanucks looking for new intro song and need your help (VIDEO)http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/25/canucks-looking-for-new-intro-song-and-need-your-help-video/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/25/canucks-looking-for-new-intro-song-and-need-your-help-video/#commentsFri, 25 Jan 2013 17:00:05 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=105259On the most recent episode of “The Legion of Blogcast”, myself and Wyatt Arndt discussed the Vancouver Canucks goal song and how much I hate it.

What didn’t make it into the conversation is how much I also hate …

]]>On the most recent episode of “The Legion of Blogcast”, myself and Wyatt Arndt discussed the Vancouver Canucks goal song and how much I hate it.

What didn’t make it into the conversation is how much I also hate the Canucks intro song as well, which as all Canucks fans know is U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”.

My hatred of it as the Canucks intro song has nothing to do with the opening lyrics “I want to run, I want to hide”. Okay, maybe that isn’t entirely true, that doesn’t really sit well with me either, but as far as lyrics go, I don’t think the intro song should strive to be as lyrically accurate as possible.

After all, what does it mean to be struck by thunder? Isn’t that impossible?

Isn’t it also a bit too polite to welcome someone to the jungle?

Was the Sandman invited or is he just entering illegally?

My problem with the song has more to do with the fact that it is played out after being used for the past 10 years or so. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of great memories of the Canucks skating out to the ring-a-ling guitar riff, but after the most recent NHL lockout I was hoping they would start fresh.

Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who was concerned about this, as Legion of Blog’s favourite NHL executive Laurence Gilman had his priorities set perfectly at the start of the season.

The Canucks have launched “Project NU2″, in which you can submit your choices for their new entrance song. You can visit the page on Canucks.com HERE and have your say in what is an incredibly important decision the year we win the Stanley Cup.

You know what? I think that decision might rank above “draft strategy” in terms of importance. But perhaps that is why I’m a sub-par pub DJ and not an NHL executive. Lack of education might be another reason.

My belief that all of a hockey team’s problems can be solved by this man may be another:

(The Canucks are about to be -1 on ice problem)

Whatever the reason I’m not a decision maker for the Vancouver Canucks, I’m extremely comforted knowing that those who are in power are focused and determined to fix the major issues facing the team right now.

Next up: fixing the logo!

(Yeah, we don’t have a “C”. We have a “TL”. Deal with it.)

So what are your suggestions for a new intro song? If I had to choose, (omitting obvious choices like Metallica and Rush and AC/DC ect) I’d have to choose this one…

The dream of winning a Stanley Cup is something the 2013 Canucks are most definitely running down. We should all act accordingly and let “Running Down the Dream” by Tom Petty remind us on a nightly basis where this team in going.

You can follow j.Bow on twitter (@jBowmancouver). Feel free to tweet him suggestions for the new Canucks intro song (just as long as there is no Alexisonfire on there. C’mon people, you’re better than that). Also, anyone suggesting “Gangnam Style” will be unfollowed with extreme prejudice.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/25/canucks-looking-for-new-intro-song-and-need-your-help-video/feed/1LaurenceGilmanNU2jbowman85(The Canucks are about to be -1 on ice problem)(Yeah, we don't have a "C". We have a "TL". Deal with it.)Toronto shoots NFL franchise hopes in the foot with Gangnam Style halftime showhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/12/17/toronto-shoots-nfl-franchise-hopes-in-the-foot-with-gangnam-style-halftime-show/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/12/17/toronto-shoots-nfl-franchise-hopes-in-the-foot-with-gangnam-style-halftime-show/#commentsMon, 17 Dec 2012 20:41:18 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=100798I thought Halloween would be the end of it.

After two months of watching a chubby Korean gentleman with Ray Bans and a snazzy style of dress dance around like he was riding a pretend horse, I figured that the …

]]>I thought Halloween would be the end of it.

After two months of watching a chubby Korean gentleman with Ray Bans and a snazzy style of dress dance around like he was riding a pretend horse, I figured that the madness would end Oct. 31st. The frustration at seeing nine different d-bags dressed up as PSY on H-ween would surely cause the fad-ending backlash we’ve all become accustom too in the last several years.

(This was a thing once)

I was wrong, but I should have been right.

Yesterday was another NFL excursion North of the border as the Buffalo Bills once again hosted a game in T.O. (Toronto, not Terrell Owens. He’s off preparing for his stint on “Bitching with the stars”). The last several seasons have seen numerous contests at the Rogers Centre, and it has long been suspected they are a trial run for the Bills to relocate their franchise to Toronto permanently.

A noble idea, however this season they brought out the big guns for a halftime show (after Justin Bieber was greeted with malice at the Grey Cup) by having the aforementioned chubster perform one of his songs for the live crowd during a brief intermission of the “Russell Wilson show”.

“What song would he play?” asked no one.

Yes, “Gangnam Style” was the big halftime show, and although I will give the organizers credit for trying to get a big, popular name to perform on their showcase game, having this decades “Baja Men” might have been a step in the wrong direction. With the exception of some select camera shots, the crowd seemed pretty dead for the performance (except when PSY said the word “Toronto” which is straight out of the Mick Foley playbook for cheap cheers) and the twitter backlash was palpable.

(“And the crowd goes mild!”)

The NFL’s obsession with Gangnam Style has gone through several stages. First, it was funny…

Then in early October, the NFL on FOX crew took it upon themselves to make sure this fad’s association with the NFL would die a horrible horrible death…

Poor Jimmy Johnson. He looks like he’s confused but being paid handsomely to pretend like he is having fun. Terry Bradshaw is used to it, having actually shared the silver screen with Matthew Mcconaughey. The movie was “Failure to Launch”, so if you were worried I was talking about “Magic Mike”, fear not. Terry Bradshaw was not in that.

(Although…still. Ugh)

So was the Toronto halftime show really that bad? No. But as someone who had his fill of Gangnam Style back when the leaves were changing colour, I was not a fan of Sunday’s festivities.

Even if it was Vancouver, I do not want an NFL expansion into Canada. We’ve got our CFL, it’s a different style (which is far from “Gangnam”) and I would like to see that league continue as an alternative to American football.

(Stop it. Just…stop it)

But I’m not one to criticize without makings few suggestion of my own, so I’ve formed the following list of acts that I think would have been a bigger hit during the Seahawks/Bills shalacking that took place yesterday:

– Rush

– Georges St. Pierre performs with Rush

– A live NHL lockout negotiation/tomato throwing jamboree

– Kids from a local pee wee football league play the Toronto Argonauts in a short exhibition

– … anything. Anything else at all.

(Just saying, they probably weren’t busy…)

You can follow j.Bow on twitter (@jBowmancouver). He dressed up as Santa for Halloween this year.

The painful-to-watch video features students, staff and teachers from Spartan High School in New Holland, Pa. …

]]>A Pennsylvania high school’s cover of “Gangnam Style” has been proclaimed the world’s worst video by a Reddit user. And they’re likely right.

The painful-to-watch video features students, staff and teachers from Spartan High School in New Holland, Pa. mimicking Psy’s dance moves from his viral music video. It seems someone has taught the students the magic of green screen, so expect some awkward shots of them dancing on the school’s roof and in the hallways (maybe they didn’t have a hall pass?).

The YouTube user who uploaded the video had no problem expressing his lack of school spirit, stating: “This is from my high school. And I hate my high school, so no shame. Feel free to hate it and share it with the world!”

What do you think: Is this “the single worst video on the entire internet” or have you seen worse?

We The City is in Norway making a feature film. I can’t accuse the Kelowna trio of being lazy. The band has co-written the film and also is preparing to record a new album.

The next Bluebird North at …

]]>NEWS

We The City is in Norway making a feature film. I can’t accuse the Kelowna trio of being lazy. The band has co-written the film and also is preparing to record a new album.

The next Bluebird North at the Roundhouse is Nov. 6 with Melissa Bandura, Roger Marin, Rick Scott and Gordie Tentrees, the last named having recorded a good roots album a few months ago.

Aidan Knight’s moody Small Reveal is out Tuesday and will be launched at the Rio, Oct. 27.

For those who miss Richard’s On Richards, the club that has been replaced by a high rise, there is a 30th anniversary party at the Shark Club, Nov. 2. No doubt those attending will have fond memories of the club’s better, early days.

GARAGE CD OF THE WEEK

Although Jim Byrnes is known as a blues singer it might be more appropriate to call him a roots musician as that gives him more scope. Going beyond the blues border, he has made an album of gospel and now country with, I Hear The Wind In The Wires. It isn’t modern country, only modestly retro, sometimes classic, occasionally folky but definitely diverse. From Hank Williams (country’s touchstone) to Nick Lowe, Byrnes exhibits his usual good taste and intelligence in his selections. This isn’t a dabble in a genre with a fresh coat of paint to cover the clichés, but has some thought and balance. I Hear The Wind In The Wires is faithful but not reverent.

VIDEOS WITH A REASON

Ali Milner has made a video of her song, For The Light for the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation. Timely, considering the dreadful circumstances of Amanda Todd. Dennehy, a depressed teen, committed suicide. The Foundation was created in his name and so far has raised $4.1 million. Milner, a long time supporter of the foundation will donate all proceeds from her downloadable video. The vid features her alone at the piano at an empty Cultch.

Thought-provoking folk-rock band The Fugitives also have a video with a conscience, Professional Sports Are Homophobic. For some people, them’s fightin’ words, which might be the point — to get people, and not just athletes, talking. The band has a tour of England in November and will have a new album in March.

JUST PLAIN VIDEOS

Who needs MuchMusic when you can post your latest song on YouTube? Answering that question this week are: Portaage And Main with Never Had The Time.

Camille Miller with Tiniest Of Hearts. Did she go back home to Nanaimo to film it?

Did the drums, guitar and bass ever dry out? Trio Scatterheart filmed its video of I Got The Feeling We’ve Hit The Ceiling under water. The band grabbed its instruments, dove off a Vancouver pier, and treaded water while it mimed its catchy pop-rock song.

GANGNAM APPROXIMATELY

The latest person to spoof Gangnam Style and post it on YouTube is T. Nile. Her own music is more roots in its orientation so this is a big change for her. Retitling the song West Coast Style, T. Nile has fun in different Vancouver settings, such as outside Rogers Arena (nothing else to do there). Gangnam Style is the most popular song in the world right now and has also been parodied by CBC’s Peter Mansbridge. Nile had 8,000 views in 24 hours.

Where The Wild Beats Are with Heads Hang Heavy, Van City Soul Committee, David Morin: Oct. 27, Backstage.

Jesus Kryler, Rampage: Oct. 26, Fairview.

B.C.’S BEST TEEN BAND

Youthink magazine has launched its annual B.C.’s Best Teen Band contest. It is what it says — a contest to decide the province’s best teenaged band. Prizes, career boosts and cash totaling $15,000 are up for grabs. Deadline to enter is December 3 with the ultimate winner playing off at the Electric Owl, April 3. Winning acts so far are The Knotts, The Archers and last years Kate Kurdyak.

Youthink is a mag written by teens and distributed tot B.C. schools

GIGS

Jim Byrnes (promoting his I Hear The Wind In The Wires, Oct. 28, Electric Owl), The Harpoonist And The Whale with Bocephus King (Nov. 3, Electric Owl), Reid Jamieson, Fish And Bird (Nov. 9, St. James Hall)

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/22/tom-harrisons-garage-for-oct-22/feed/0alimilnertomhar1NHL makes 50/50 offer: 7 steps to keep the public on the side of the playershttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/16/nhl-makes-new-offer-7-steps-to-keep-the-public-on-the-side-of-the-players/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/16/nhl-makes-new-offer-7-steps-to-keep-the-public-on-the-side-of-the-players/#commentsTue, 16 Oct 2012 18:51:10 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=93116Isn’t it nice when we have a clear picture of who the heroes and villains are in any conflict? Sure makes things easier on impartial third parties.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 24 hours, …

]]>Isn’t it nice when we have a clear picture of who the heroes and villains are in any conflict? Sure makes things easier on impartial third parties.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 24 hours, a legitimate piece of NHL news has come out and unfortunately it falls shy of “Lockout is over”. This is doubly bad news if you live under a rock but can still find out how this lockout is progressing.

(Pictured: Worst case scenario. Also, is a Flames fan. Bad day)

The giant nugget of NHL info was that according to this Deadspin article (which has been read by every hockey fan on earth by now), the NHL had hired GOP propaganda Czar Frank Luntz to lead a focus group to determine a strategy for how to get the public back on the side of the NHL owners.

There might not be anything I love more than the assumption that this is possible without resorting to highly inaccurate photoshop mudslinging.

Today however there is hope. Word has come out that the NHL has tabled a new offer to the NHLPA. I can only assume that the debacle from the focus group story played a part in that, but I also love incorrect assumptions so I don’t know what to believe.

The details of the deal are cloudy, but the main idea is this:

– 50/50 spilt conditional on squeezing in a full 82-game season starting November 2nd.

Just in case this is some sort of trap or PR ploy from the NHL owners (after yesterday I wouldn’t put it past them to try), here are some helpful tips for the NHLPA to keep the public on their side during this negotiation in case the players now appear greedy and/or Donald Fehr reads the Legion.

(We know you read us Donald, don’t deny it)

STEP 1 – Counter with a 50/50 offer and Gary Bettman’s resignation.

The NHLPA comes out of the focus group story smelling like a rose. This new 50/50 deal reeks of desperation, so if the players want to make some serious gains without looking greedy, ask for Bettman’s job. While it’s no surprise that the NHL is working on improving their image, Bettman’s botching of the focus group story has been scrutinized to the point where the word backfire doesn’t even do it justice. I may need Kurt Russell’s help on this one:

STEP 2 – Keep holding charity games

Kevin Bieksa will be hosting a charity hockey game featuring many NHL stars this coming Wednesday night. The event (called “Bieksa’s Buddies” thus ruining a sitcom I was planning to produce after his retirement) has had to deal with greed and corruption also, as many tickets were purchased at $20 and now are being resold on Craigslist and through other channels with a ridiculous markup. If the NHLPA can find a way to blame the owners for that, this PR war is won.

STEP 3 – “Arrested Development” style reverse marketing.

Not sure what that is?

STEP 4 – Be the first people to openly disown “Gangnam Style”

We all know the bottom is going to drop out on “Gangnam Style” any minute now. If the NHLPA drafts a press release stating their desire to see hockey return and Gangnam Style go away forever, it might make them look like monsters at first, but when people see the 30,000 PSY costumes this Halloween, they will realize the NHLPA should be trusted and followed.

STEP 6 – Keep dressing like you have no money during press conferences.

I can’t stress enough how important this is. The only rich people who wear shorts in public play in the NBA.

STEP 7 – Make counter offer and only request 57% of all hockey related revenue.

This will make you look extremely generous seeing as how you are the ones that actually play the hockey that is required to generate revenue. Oh, you’ve already done that? Well played, you selfless, shorts-loving kings of men.

STEP 8 (Bonus step) – Take the damn deal and let’s play some hockey!

It’s hard to see moments like this when the NHL is locked out. Even though the players deserve more, eff it. Let’s just get this thing over with already.

So there you have it NHLPA. Just in case the NHL’s focus group and their subsequent offer yields positive results and people start getting behind the owners (pause for laughs), feel free to use any of these techniques. However if you feel compelled to have your own focus group, DO NOT USE ANYONE FROM THE GOP. They’ve almost got a worse reputation than Bettman.

You can follow jBow on twitter (@jBowmancouver). He’d like the remind you that the Legion of Blog is a hockey blog that won’t kidnap and murder you.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/16/nhl-makes-new-offer-7-steps-to-keep-the-public-on-the-side-of-the-players/feed/0NHLPAlogojbowman85FlamesshirtCharazangiefdonaldfehrNHLPAbackdraftBettmanscalperNHLPA LogoNoGangnamStyleNHLPAlogosmallNHLPA pressnhlpa-press-conferenceKale Kessy coming to Giants two games sooner, Rebels do it Game Day Style and other WHL noteshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/15/kale-kessy-coming-to-giants-two-games-sooner-rebels-do-it-game-day-style-and-other-whl-notes/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/15/kale-kessy-coming-to-giants-two-games-sooner-rebels-do-it-game-day-style-and-other-whl-notes/#commentsTue, 16 Oct 2012 02:56:09 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=93156According to the Vancouver Giants, the WHL has changed how it’s counting Kale Kessy’s 12-game suspension and he’ll now be available to the Giants for a Friday, Oct. 26 visit from the Victoria Royals, rather than a Tuesday, Oct. 30 …]]>

Mac Engel will have Prince George fans now. (Spokane Spokesman-Review.)

According to the Vancouver Giants, the WHL has changed how it’s counting Kale Kessy’s 12-game suspension and he’ll now be available to the Giants for a Friday, Oct. 26 visit from the Victoria Royals, rather than a Tuesday, Oct. 30 road game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. That also means that Kessy will be eligible for an Oct. 28 game at the Edmonton Oil Kings. Vancouver got Kessy from the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday for a conditional fifth-round bantam draft pick in 2015, and now the league is tagging a couple more games on the suspension on his time with Medicine Hat. During that stint, he also had a tryout with the Phoenix Coyotes’ AHL team in Portland. Kessy received the 12-game penalty, his seventh WHL suspension, for a hit to the head against Lethbridge on Sept. 22. … The Prince George Cougars picked up goalie Mac Engel, 19, on Monday from the Spokane Chiefs for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft. The Chiefs had sent him home to Red Deer awaiting trade. The Chiefs had split their goaltending down the stretch last year between Engel and Eric Williams, but, with both at 19 years of age, something had to give this year. The Cougars had been using mainly Brett Zarowny, 17, to date and he’s off to a 4-2-0-0 start, with a 3.64 goals against and an .887 save percentage. A 2010 third rounder, he played Midget Triple A last season in Leduc, Alta. Devon Fordyce, 18, had been backing him up, and he’s started 1-1-1-0, with 4.29 and a .871. In his two-plus regular seasons with the Chiefs, Engel was 42-28-3-4, with a 2.56 and a .899. Garret Hughson, 17, takes over as Williams’ back-up. …Word is the Giants didn’t make a pitch for Engel. Liam Liston, 19, pegged as the starter, is off to a slow start, and Tyler Fuhr, 17, is a rookie. … The Red Deer Rebels have their goaltending issues apparently, as Czech Patrik Bartosak, 19, was suspended last week by the club for disciplinary reasons, and prospect Grant Naherniak was called in from the Midget Triple A Moose Jaw squad to serve as a back-up to Bolton Pouliot, 18, in a 2-1 win over Medicine Hat and a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Hitmen. Bartosak was back practising with Rebels on Monday and general manager Brent Sutter told the Red Deer Advocate: “It’s a disciplinary thing that has been dealt with. He understands it, he knows why. I don’t think we need to go any deeper with it than that. It was something that had to be done. He’s a great kid and he’s obviously a heck of a goaltender, one of the best in our league. He’s back at practice today and it will be a coaching decision as to who plays in net tomorrow (versus the Kamloops Blazers).” … Speaking of the Rebels, check out this video they were a part of. Here’s betting Sutter wasn’t asked to appear.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/15/kale-kessy-coming-to-giants-two-games-sooner-rebels-do-it-game-day-style-and-other-whl-notes/feed/1steveewenAmerican Airlines blames rash of loose seats on drinks and snackshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/05/american-airlines-blames-rash-of-loose-seats-on-drinks-and-snacks/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/05/american-airlines-blames-rash-of-loose-seats-on-drinks-and-snacks/#commentsFri, 05 Oct 2012 23:02:51 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=91987A number of American Airlines flights in recent days have been diverted or forced to return to their airport of origin after seats became loose and unstable after takeoff.